On Broadway: ‘Come From Away’ inspires humanity

If the musical “Come From Away” doesn’t fully restore your faith in the inherent goodness of mankind, it certainly sets you in the right direction.

It’s the true story of what happened when 38 jets were forced to land at a large, mostly abandoned airport near Gander, Newfoundland after U.S. airspace was shut down in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Every plane from whatever departure point was considered another possible instrument of death.

That left nearly 7,000 people stuck in a town with no more than 10,000 residents. But the locals banded together to provide, food, clothes, housing and comfort for those passengers who were nervous and confused when they arrived. By the time they left a few days later, lasting relationships had formed with the good people of Gander, who might have been overwhelmed but found the resources bring everyone together.

It’s an inspiring show told with great affection and spirit by a 12-member cast plus a lively band on stage. It doesn't dwell on the tragedy of terrorism, but what can happen when people are able to help one another.

The actors alternate between passengers and residents, allowing us to get to know many of them well enough to connect to their stories.

They include a gay couple (Chad Kimball and Caesar Samayoa) nervous about revealing their relationship; a black man (De’Lon Grant) not used to being treated kindly or fairly by white people; a resident (Petrina Bromley) who takes it upon herself to care for the animals on board the planes; a fledgling television reporter (Alex Finke) not prepared for the scope of the story she's covering; and Jenn Colella as the first female American Airlines captain who takes special care to watch over her passengers and plane.

The show by Irene Sankoff and David Hein is based on their interviews with residents and passengers around the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, when many passengers returned to Gander to get reacquainted with their hosts. The score is catchy and helps to tell the story though you're not likely to remember any of the numbers individually, aside from Colella’s touching solo “Me and the Sky.”

It is all packaged by director Christopher Ashley in a way that captures your heart without a lot of schmaltz. Yes, it’s occasionally manipulative, but you don’t want to resist its charms. And by the time those passengers fly off and start collecting money for their hosts, you want to dig into your pocket and help them.

I saw the show just three days after a terrorist ran down people riding on a bike path in Manhattan, providing an unwelcome reminder of the insanity around us. “Come From Away” goes a long way to help you put those thoughts aside and feel better about the world.

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